Gov. Dep't to Alter Its Requirements

The government department moved Monday towards eliminating the by-pass options on two of its four introductory classes, professors said yesterday.

At a department meeting, professors discussed alternate ways to restructure the concentration and then voted to recommend that students be required to take two of the four introductory classes. At the same meeting, professors voted to add flexibility in course selection in other subfields, a department member said yesterday.

The discussion came out of a report by last spring's visiting committee that recommended the department rationalize the bypass rules and consider a "capstone" experience for seniors, Professor of Government Susan J. Pharr said last night.

Students can currently bypass Government 10: "Public and Private: An Introduction to Political Philosophy," Government 20: "Introduction to Comparative Government," Government 30: "Introduction to American Government," and Historical Studies A-12: "International Conflicts in the Modern World," the four introductory classes that are required of each concentrator.

Pharr, who is the department's chair, declined to comment on any changes to the bypass requirements, saying "since the [Education Policy Committee] doesn't even know about it, I don't feel comfortable discussing this in The Crimson."

The EPC has to approve changes in concentration requirements, Pharr said.

"Overall, what we discussed would not tighten or loosen the current rules, but simply rationalize them and try to improve our teaching program," Pharr said.

She stressed that any changes would not "adversely affect any current undergraduates."

"Given how seriously the EPC takes undergraduate issues, it will probably take years to get them through the approval process," Pharr said.

Pharr said that the board of tutors and faculty members are trying to rationalize and improve the undergraduate experience.

She said the senior surveys taken by the Department have been very useful in evaluating possible reforms.

The proposed changes are likely to be controversial, as many Government concentrators currently opt out of the required introductory classes.

Last year 196 students graduated in government, but only 53 students took Government 20 and 66 took Government 30.

Historical Studies A-12 and Government 10 were more popular, drawing 201 and 202 students respectively, according to the CUE Guide.

When told yesterday of the proposed changes, one concentrator said yesterday she disapproved of the plan to eliminate the bypass option.

"All of the people I know are planning on taking the bypass classes," said Claudia Y. Sanchez '97, a government concentrator.

"I've taken Gov 20 and am plan-

Professors said the department's board oftutors will now draw up the exact requirements andthen present them to the faculty for finalapproval.

The professors willing to talk about thechanges said they were sure they would beapproved.

One, Professor of Government Timothy Colton,did not draw a distinction between the proposaland any eventual changes.

"We voted some changes at the meeting," Coltonsaid. "The only issue that was very controversialwas the bypass requirement."

The professors also discussed having acomprehensive exam for senior honorsconcentrators, Colton said.

Other professors contacted yesterday refused todiscuss the meeting in any detail, saying eitherthat no action had been taken or that the issuewould be made public at an appropriate time.

All of the professors interviewed said thatProfessor of Government Louise Richardson is theperson officially in charge of any such change.

Richardson said in a brief interview yesterdaythat changes are "certainly under discussion, butthese things take time."

"There are no decisions," Professor ofGovernment James E. Alt said. "If there is a newplan, when there is one, we will be happy toprovide multiple copies of it to everyone whowants one."

"Until then; people should continue to livetheir lives taking the wonderful classes that thegovernment department offers," Alt added.

Professor of Government Paul E. Peterson, whoteaches Government 30, one of the introductoryclasses, said the real issue is an academic one.

"Is there a core body of knowledge that allundergraduate concentrators should know,or...should we allow students to pursue theirdifferent interests?" Peterson said. "I think bothare true, which is why it is not easy to say whatto do."

Peterson said that he and Professor ofGovernment Morris P. Fiorina, Jr. have devotedmuch of their time to improving Government 30 overthe few years.

"We have tried to make it as effective a courseas we possibly can, and there has been substantialCUE guide rating improvements," Peterson said.

"I don't know how the changes will affect thecourse. It will depend on how students like it,"Peterson added.

In addition to discussing changes in the bypassrequirements, the faculty voted to drop a rulerequiring seniors have an 11.5 grade point averagein order to write a senior thesis, Pharr said.

The rule had been enacted in the early 1990'sbut was never implemented, Pharr said.

"We regard the decision to write a seniorthesis as a very personal decision, and if ahighly motivated student wants to write a seniorthesis we don't think there should be an arbitrarycut off to bar the way," Pharr said

Professors said the department's board oftutors will now draw up the exact requirements andthen present them to the faculty for finalapproval.

The professors willing to talk about thechanges said they were sure they would beapproved.

One, Professor of Government Timothy Colton,did not draw a distinction between the proposaland any eventual changes.

"We voted some changes at the meeting," Coltonsaid. "The only issue that was very controversialwas the bypass requirement."

The professors also discussed having acomprehensive exam for senior honorsconcentrators, Colton said.

Other professors contacted yesterday refused todiscuss the meeting in any detail, saying eitherthat no action had been taken or that the issuewould be made public at an appropriate time.

All of the professors interviewed said thatProfessor of Government Louise Richardson is theperson officially in charge of any such change.

Richardson said in a brief interview yesterdaythat changes are "certainly under discussion, butthese things take time."

"There are no decisions," Professor ofGovernment James E. Alt said. "If there is a newplan, when there is one, we will be happy toprovide multiple copies of it to everyone whowants one."

"Until then; people should continue to livetheir lives taking the wonderful classes that thegovernment department offers," Alt added.

Professor of Government Paul E. Peterson, whoteaches Government 30, one of the introductoryclasses, said the real issue is an academic one.

"Is there a core body of knowledge that allundergraduate concentrators should know,or...should we allow students to pursue theirdifferent interests?" Peterson said. "I think bothare true, which is why it is not easy to say whatto do."

Peterson said that he and Professor ofGovernment Morris P. Fiorina, Jr. have devotedmuch of their time to improving Government 30 overthe few years.

"We have tried to make it as effective a courseas we possibly can, and there has been substantialCUE guide rating improvements," Peterson said.

"I don't know how the changes will affect thecourse. It will depend on how students like it,"Peterson added.

In addition to discussing changes in the bypassrequirements, the faculty voted to drop a rulerequiring seniors have an 11.5 grade point averagein order to write a senior thesis, Pharr said.

The rule had been enacted in the early 1990'sbut was never implemented, Pharr said.

"We regard the decision to write a seniorthesis as a very personal decision, and if ahighly motivated student wants to write a seniorthesis we don't think there should be an arbitrarycut off to bar the way," Pharr said